nbc's kelly o'donnell has more. >> reporter: it's a distant memory said husband mark kelly, yet gabby giffords halting words. >> too many children. >> reporter: here as a survivor of the tucson assassination attempt that left her partially blind and partially paralyzed. >> you must act. be bold. be courageous. >> reporter: giffords and kelly, both gun owners, want congress to expand background checks to gun shows and private sales to make it harder for criminals and the mentally ill to get weapons. >> my wife would not be sitting in this seat, she would not have been sitting here today, if we have stronger background checks. >> reporter: of all the gun-related ideas on the table, democrats believe universal background checks have the best chance politically. >> we'll stop them from the original purchase. you missed that point completely. i think it's basic. >> senator, i think you missed it. >> in order. >> reporter: the nra said adding new laws would hit ordinary stricken citizens not criminals. >>> this is the year for immigration reform. that's president obama's hope he laid out hi